Targeting High-Dose Statins in Patients with Stable Angina
General Medicine Summary and Comment
A rule based on 13 clinical factors identified patients at low or high risk for adverse vascular events.
Atorvastatin, Rosuvastatin, and Simvastatin Are Associated with Excess Risk for Diabetes
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Using low doses of these drugs might mitigate the risk.
By Paul S. Mueller, MD, MPH, FACP
June 11, 2013
Covering:
Carter AA et al., BMJ 2013 May 23; 346:f2610
Huupponen R and Viikari J., BMJ 2013 May 23; 346:f3156
When Should CV Risk Be Remeasured in People at Low or Intermediate Risk?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Few people whose baseline cardiovascular risk was very low or low became high risk after 8 years.
Genetic Cascade Screening for Familial Hypercholesterolemia
Cardiology Summary and Comment
A population-based study suggests a polygenic cause for FH in many mutation-negative patients, which may reduce the need for genetic screening of relatives.
By Beat J. Meyer, MD
May 8, 2013
Covering:
Talmud PJ et al., Lancet 2013 Apr 13; 381:1293
High-Potency Statins Associated with Acute Kidney Injury
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Risk is greatest during the first 4 months of treatment.
Vascular Changes During the Menopausal Transition
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Adverse carotid artery remodeling accelerates during late perimenopause.
By JoAnne M. Foody, MD
March 7, 2013
Covering:
El Khoudary SR et al., Menopause 2013 Jan; 20:8
Pai JK and Manson JE., Menopause 2013 Jan; 20:1
Lifting the Taboo on Eggs
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Meta-analysis shows little association between egg consumption and coronary heart disease or stroke.
Another Inflammatory Disease Linked to Thrombosis?
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Dermatomyositis may be associated with increased risk for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, but sketchy data preclude a definitive conclusion.
Pravastatin in Pregnancy? Stay Tuned.
Women's Health Summary and Comment
A potential strategy for preventing preeclampsia
In Patients with Hyperlipidemia, Exercise and Statins Both Lengthen Life
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Moderate fitness or statin use led to about the same 10-year mortality.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
January 15, 2013
Covering:
Kokkinos PF et al., Lancet 2012 Nov 28
A Hat Trick for a New Type of LDL-Lowering Agent
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In three separate phase II trials, a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 protease inhibitor achieves significant reductions in LDL levels compared with placebo or ezetimibe.
By JoAnne M. Foody, MD
January 2, 2013
Covering:
Koren MJ et al., Lancet 2012 Dec 8/14; 380:1995
Giugliano RP et al., Lancet 2012 Dec 8/14; 380:2007
Tonkin AM and Watts GF., Lancet 2012 Dec 8/14; 380:1971
Raal F et al., Circulation 2012 Nov 13; 126:2408
Guidelines for the Management of Stable Ischemic Heart Disease
Cardiology Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
Free
New recommendations inform treatment strategies that balance life-saving interventions with symptom relief.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
December 19, 2012
Covering:
Fihn SD et al., Circulation 2012 Dec 18; 60:e44
Statins as Anticancer Drugs?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
In an observational study with limitations, statin use by cancer patients was associated with lower 3-year mortality.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
November 8, 2012
Covering:
Nielsen SF et al., N Engl J Med 2012 Nov 8; 367:1792
Caporaso NE., N Engl J Med 2012 Nov 8; 367:1848
Fibrates Improved Cholesterol Levels in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
General Medicine Summary and Comment
But rising serum creatinine levels and decreasing glomerular filtration rate also were noted in a meta-analysis.
By Kirsten E. Fleischmann, MD, MPH
November 6, 2012
Covering:
Jun M et al., J Am Coll Cardiol 2012 Nov 13; 60:2061
McCullough PA and Di Loreto MJ., J Am Coll Cardiol 2012 Nov 13; 60:2072
Lower LDL Cholesterol Level and Risk for CHD Later in Life
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Coronary heart disease in midlife was uncommon in people with genetically low LDL cholesterol levels.
By Kirsten E. Fleischmann, MD, MPH
November 6, 2012
Covering:
Ference BA et al., J Am Coll Cardiol 2012 Oct 9
Steinberg D and Grundy SM., J Am Coll Cardiol 2012 Oct 9
Dalcetrapib's Downfall: A Class Struggle?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Another cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor raises HDL levels but fails to improve outcomes.
Calculating Patients' Lifetime Risk for Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Is it more practical than the 10-year risk estimates we're accustomed to using?
Progress in Lipid Management
Cardiology Summary and Comment
U.S. data reveal continuous improvement in population-wide lipid levels over the past 20 years.
By Joanne Foody, MD
October 31, 2012
Covering:
Carroll MD et al., JAMA 2012 Oct 17; 308:1545
Overweight and Obese Children Have Excess CV Risk
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Meta-analysis reveals associations between high body-mass index and multiple adverse cardiovascular risk factors.
Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease Is Frequent in Patients with Severe Psoriasis
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Early-onset, diffuse arterial atherosclerosis in coronary and carotid arteries was evident in these patients.
Herpes Zoster Roster
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Investigators explore the degree to which chronic medical conditions affect the unexplained burden of herpes zoster.
By Mark V. Dahl, MD
October 19, 2012
Covering:
Joesoef RM et al., Mayo Clin Proc 2012 Oct; 87:961
Reducing Co-pays for Cardiovascular Meds: More Bang for the Buck?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Cutting co-payments for statins and clopidogrel was associated with improvements in adherence and resource utilization but no change in overall spending.
By Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM
October 17, 2012
Covering:
Choudhry NK et al., J Am Coll Cardiol 2012 Oct 3
Stecker EC et al., J Am Coll Cardiol 2012 Oct 3
Biologics and Methotrexate Lower Rates of Cardiovascular Death, Myocardial Infarction, and Stroke in Patients with Severe Psoriasis
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Free
Results suggest that systemic inflammation is an important link between psoriasis and cardiovascular disease.
CRP, Fibrinogen, and Cardiac Risk Stratification
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Free
Both biomarkers slightly improved prediction when added to a base model, but their comparative clinical value has yet to be determined.
New JUPITER Analysis Clarifies Risk for Incident Diabetes with Statin Therapy
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Benefits probably outweigh harms, even in patients with diabetes risk factors.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
September 6, 2012
Covering:
Ridker PM et al., Lancet 2012 Aug 11; 380:565
